Hardcastle Crags - II

A few pics from today - GPS'ing locations, numbering boxes, and the full set first thing - 49 hole fronted and 3 open fronted boxes, made from 1.25" crags-cut-beech. Go ahead squirrels, give it your best shot.

Hardcastle Crags

7 people turned up in all to put up the 50 or so nestboxes targeting pied flycatcher, redstart and to a lesser extent spotted flycatcher, and remove old nests and un-usable boxes from the last time we put 50 up!

It was a successful, if long and tiring day. Around 80% of the 2005 boxes had old nests in, most presumably tits, but we unfortunately do not know due to lack of surveying. Two or three of the nests removed were significantly different though, consisting mainly of grass. Also, one of the open fronted boxes had a nest in.
The National Trust have this time allowed us to place the boxes visibly - something we had to avoid in '05. Therefore, surveying by the group, and in some cases the public, should be far easier. The boxes the Crags kindly put together for us are fantastic - very very substantial. They should last for many years. The boxes we placed today were in a variety of locations, habitats, tree types, heights, orientations, etc, so we are very positive that we should make some highly relevant findings, and ultimately boost the pitiful number of pied fly' and redstart in Calderdale.
Photos and more details to come, but thanks go to the team of:
Nick Carter
Andrew Crystal
Steve Cummings
Sean Johnston
Matt Bell
Tim Walker
Andy Huyton

Fly Flatts

25/03/2007 0800-1015hrs Cold NE>5 Murky
Several Curlews now established on moor
Several blogging Mipits
1 Singing Skylark
1 Pied Wag
2 Twite on seed,one ringed,one unringed
1pr Stonechat
2 LBB Gulls on water
+ good raptor morning. BS 

24th March

12 Twite at the seed at Cold Edge this PM.2 Golden Plover, 3 Curlews and a few Lapwing over. 1 LBBG and sevearal Canada Geese.

Walshaw and the Garden

Walk up Walshaw this morning to the res produced this Buzzard drifting west at 12:35, seen from top res,



Also 4 Oystercatcher on Lower res, male Reed Bunting east shore of Middle Res and Bottom West hand edge of Lower Res.
Serveral Mipits, Curlew heard calling, Pied Wagtail and a Mistle Thrush on dam side of Lower res.

The garden continues to pull in new visitors with a pair of Stock Dove's being the latest new arrivals. Also flushed female sparrowhawk whilst putting some apples out this morning. (watch out all you doves!!)

Garden Birds (rishworth)

These are a few pictures of some of our garden visitors. Blue tits,great tits,coal tits,long tailed tits,dunnocks,robins,bullfinches-(male and female)greenfinches,chaffinches,blackbirds,great spotted woodpeckers,pied wagtail,wrens were all visitors today.

Garden Visitor's

I returned home this afternoon and as I got out of the car a female sparrowhawk lifted off from our garden and flew prey in talons into our neighbours garden. Only just insight I watched he for 5 mins as she plucked away at her prey, I inched forward in the hope of getting a line of sight capable of a photograph but she took off still carrying the unfortunate bird with her, revealing at the sametime that it was a collard dove she'd taken. Within 20 mins this male arrived in the garden and stayed for approx 5/10 mins affording excellant views from my kitchen window if not the best of photo's.

Sowerby Bridge - 21.03.07 pm

I received this report via email from a member of the public who lives outside of our area but was in Sowerby Bridge for a business meeting, and found the blog through a search engine. Many thanks to Stef Jones.

Dipper downstream on the Calder
Kingfisher upstream, then across the weir by the slalom course.

Another test - I am on a roll now!!!

Fieldfare at Hardcastle Crags some weeks ago

Another test!

Now I am up and running again also attempting to upload a Dunnock taken in the snow recently

Test!

Just testing this out as I have not been able to post on the blog for several weeks now - see how this goes

22nd March

 
 
Hardcastle Crags Car Parks with DJS.
2 Nuthatches calling and inspecting holes at the Car Park, 2 or 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Treecreepers, 2 Song Thrush, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrest etc.
Upper Crimsworth Dean
2 Oystercatchers, 30+ Curlew, 2 Golden Plover, 16 Lapwings, 2 Greylag Geese, Kestrel, 200+ Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 2 Common Gull, 2 Stock Dove, 6 Pied Wags, Goldcrest, Dipper, Reed Bunting, Pheasant.
Moor End Road
Sparrowhawk seen twice. 

Chif-Chaff Influx

I noted two Chiff-Chaffs calling at Cromwell Bottom LNR last Friday (16/3/07) my first migrants of the year. Yesterday (21/3/07) it was noticable that several male Chiff-Chaffs were calling along both sides of the canal towpath all the way down from Rawsons pool on the canal and throughout the LNR, at least 8 birds were in residence. In the afternoon I cycled up to Littleborough on the canal towpath. Its was very noticable that Chiff-Chaffs were in evidence in some numbers in the scrub along the twopath as far as Hebden Bridge. After Hebden Bridge I cycled onto Littleborough then up the road to Blackstone edge, down the road through Crag Vale to Mytholmroyd and then back onto the towpath back to Elland. No calling Chiff-Chaffs were heard from Hebden Bridge until I got back on the canal towpath just below Sowerby Bridge. I cycled more or less the same route last week and did not hear a single Chiff-Chaff. Yesterday gave me a wonderful illustration how migrants spread (and how quickly)from the lower Calder valley to the upper end. I am cycling to the upper Calder valley on Sunday and will make note if the Chiff-chaff influx has spread futher up the valley in the intervening days.

Around and About today.

Colden in fields adjacent to the planned development 2 Curlew, a male Pheasant and a male Kestrel which was successful in catching a vole, also a Brown Hare showed to within 12ft of the car (see my Wildwindow.blogspot for photo's)

Lower Gorple

On the res:- Several Canada Geese,5 Mallard and 2 Oystercatchers on the Dam wall.

A Minimum of 4 Curlew in nearby fields and moorland, constant movement made it impossible to say if there were more than 4, although I would have to say that there probably is.
Raven heard calling but not seen.
Pied Wagtail on Dam wall also another near the car park at the bottom.

First plantation on your left as you walk upto Upper Gorple:-

Flock of between 6/10 Brambling feeding in the tops of the pines incl 2 Males in near full Summer Plummage.
Coal Tit, Great tit, 4+ Goldcrest's and Chaffinch.

Second plantation on your left produced Goldcrest, Coal tit, Chaffinch and a Male Siskin also female Kestrel.

Upper Gorple:-

2 Mallard and c20 Canada Geese.

On surrounding moors 1 Red grouse was seen with several others heard, also numerous Mipits.

Wainstalls rd between the Crossroads Inn and the top of the Luddenden Village Rd produced a Male Northern Wheatear late afternoon a very flighty individual, my first for the year.

Fields nr Baitings Res produced a flock of c20 Curlew as I drove to Ringstone in a vain attempt to see the Kittiwake - Ringstone did have a Pair of Goosander.

21st March

Cold Edge, 12 Twite at feeding station,Sparrowhawk, Kestrel 20+ Curlew, 2 Stonechats at Fly Flats.
DJP reports an adult Kittiwake at Ringstone Edge this PM.

20th March Red Kite seen.

Got Dave Suttcliffes message at 2.30PM and jumped on the first bus. Arrived at my usual watch point at 2.55PM, 30 mins after the bird had drifted over the Luddenden Valley towards Midgley. I could see Dave scrambling up the steep slope of Midgley Moor through my scope, Smegol climing the stairs of Cirth Ungol came to mind. I gave it 45mins but the cold eventually got too much so I drifted home dissapointed. A Sparrowhawk over Ovenden Wood livened things up, then a pair of adult Peregrines flew directly over Moor End Road heading north.
It is worth people keeping a look out at upland sites because last year a Red Kite maybe the same bird was picked up on several occasions.

Withens Clough/Rishworth Res/Ringstone & EGP

Upto 9 Skylarks feeding on the Calderdale Way footpath on the right hand side of the reservoir also 3 female Reed Buntings and a single male, pair of StoneChats and several Mipits.
Also in adjacent field c50 Fieldfare feeding alongside c30 Starlings.
Pied Wagtail and a female Goosander on the Resevoir along with 7 Canada Geese and 3 Mallard - 2 male 1 Female.
2 Large Juv Gulls flew over see photo (click on photo for enlarged image).
Numerous Carrion Crows and Woodpigeons flying over constantly.

Rishworth 7 Canada Geese, 3 Common Gulls, 7 BH Gulls on the Res and an Oystercatcher feeding in fields on the far side.

Ringstone Edge feeding station, 12 Goldfinch,13 Greenfinch, Pair Reed Bunting, 4 Dunnock,5 Chaffinch, Male and female Blackbird, Robin. Later a quick stop at approx 6pm produced 2 Male Goosander on the Res.

EGP, several Common, BH Gulls and Coots on the ski lake (no ducks!), Little Grebe on the first scrape with 4 Coot. Chiffchaff feeding in scrub by the bend in the river before flying over to the large pylon on the other side of the river. At least 3 small flocks of Long tailed tit's, also Great and Blue tits.
2 Goosander on the river male and female also a Grey Wagtail, and several Mallard.
On the other side of the river a flock of c40/50 Meadow Pipits.
At feeding station near the Car Park, Great tit, Blue tit, Robin and a single Redwing in bushes near by.

Photo's from today in the garden and at Withens Clough.

Details on all sightings to follow after the football. As you can see a busy afternoon, help please on the Gull 1 of 2 which flew over Withens Clough (no expert on juv Gulls, all I knew is it wasn't a white winged.) Also visited EGP so sightings from there to follow also. Right thats it for now I'm off to the pub.

Jumble Hole - 8:30 - 9:00am

Green woodpecker (h)
1 Nuthatch
3 Jays
12 long-tailed tits
Several jackdaws nest-building at the quarry
1 Kestrel
1 male sparrowhawk
2 dipper
2 mallard on millpond
34 fieldfare over north
1 mistle thrush
Also, 22 pied wagtails at Callis Sewage Farm

Sunny Vale

Does anyone have Sunny Vale as a local patch ? Getting reports from a lady dog walker of regular sightings of Kingfisher and she wondered what else was down there. I havent been since the old days of stock car racing. BS

Crags nestboxes

Following on from the Tree Sparrow nestboxes and as part of our commitment to the Calderdale BAP priority species Pied Flycatcher and Redstart we will be erecting over 50 nest boxes at Hardcastle Crags next Sunday morning. We are meeting in the bottom car park at 9 am, anyone wanting to help or requiring further info please contact me at midgleybirder@yahoo.co.uk. Ladders, equipment etc are also very welcome!

It dont get worse than this

Fly Flatts,height of the blizzard and as it cleared.
Fly Flatts. 18/03/2007 0800-0930hrs Gale force 9 >NW. Hail and Snow showers
6 Twite by top gate, none by seed
1 Goldeneye
3 Canadas
1pr Stonechat
1 Snipe, my first this year. BS 

Tree Sparrow update

12 single, 3 double and 1 triple nestbox put up today at Jay House Lane. Last year's boxes (a similar number) were also checked. Discounting 1 tit nest, there were 2 sparrow nests from last year - 1 in the Garden, 1 in the fields.

The nest in the Garden tallies exactly with my observation of the same box from May 26th last year:

"Tree Sparrows confirmed"

Thanks to Nick, both Andys and Matt (today's work party), plus Pitstop for the boxes again.

Early Wheatear

PG has reported a Wheatear at Withens Clough on 12th March, two days before the Whiteholme bird. This will be the second earlist on record for Calderdale. Also 3 Chiffchaffs and a Water Rail at High Royd on 14th March.

Chif Chaff

Morning all
Whilst cycling to Brighouse yesterday (16/3/07) on the canal towpath I heard the distinctive song of at least two Chif-Chaffs in an area of scrub near the old lock house just above Avocet Engineering (used to be Kosset Carpets factory). First migrants of the year for me.

Woodlesford News Agent

Just thought I would give them another plug for selling the 2005 Bird Report. Unlike the tourist info centres around Calderdale, Woodlesford News Agent take no commission for selling the report, the tourist info centres take a third of the selling price. As yet the reports are not in the info centres and I would thank anyone for buying their copy at Woodlesford Pellon. They also sell nest boxes at 4pounds each, so if your old box is falling apart now is an ideal time to replace it.

Bird report

Anyone wanting a copy of the 2005 report by post please E mail me at midgleybirder@yahoo.co.uk price incl postage £5-50

WIDDOP RD

Just past the Packhorse Inn this afternoon, c70 Fieldfares feeding in road side field along with a Curlew, 2 Oystercatchers and a Mistle Thrush.

Stoneshay gate this morning Greenwoodpecker heard calling, this afternoon 8 Redwings in trees.

15th March Shorelark

DJS reports the Shorelark to be still present at Swales Moor.

Book Advice

Hi all
I am seeking some guidance of a decent book on the evolution of birds, any suggestions ?

Moffman

Pennine Books

Can I make an unashamed plug for Paul Talbot's excellent book dealing website at www.penninebooks.co.uk Paul has generously offered to help sponsor the work of the Calderdale Bird Conservation Group by offering us 5% of the value of any purchase made by local naturalists through his site, he has also pledged a lump sum each year. I can fully vouch for both the quality of the books and the service you will receive as I have bought through Pennine Books myself.

Please make Pennine Books your first stop when buying and help local conservation initiatives at no extra cost to yourselves.

Attention Twite feeders!

Would anyone who is planning on operating a twite feeding station during this breeding season let me know of their expected useage of nyger, I have a contact for a possible free supply. Please note this is ONLY available for Twite feeding stations run as part of the twite project not for general garden use.

13th March 10.35 - 12.00AM

Visited my local watch point this morning and lasted 1hr 30 mins before frost bite set in. A female sparrowhawk was in full display at 11.38, undertail coverts well spread, diving and looping back up several times. It was attacked by a second female before this bird was driven off by the first bird. It was noted that the second bird did not show any spread undertail coverts. Also Kestrel, 2 Mallard, 2 Canadas, 33 Lapwing, 2 LBBGS, 1 Grey Heron and a Grey Wagtail over.
2 Little Owls and 18 Fieldfare at Heath Hill Road this PM.
Last night visited 3 former LEO nesting sites with Steve Cummings, but despite perfect conditions, we drew a blank. Not even any calling Tawnys which seemed strange. We did here a Little Owl and 2 Oystercatchers.

Widdop, Gorple and Lumbutts

Had a wander about this morning in search of early migrants, but no luck yet., and no other surprises.

Widdop:
2 Fieldfares.
27 Canada Geese.
Several Meadow Pipits, some short song-flights.
Red Grouse heard.

Gorple Lower Res:
c18 Canada Geese.
1 pair Greylag Geese.
2 pairs Mallard.
6 Black-headed Gulls.
3 Curlew.
1 Lapwing.

Walshaw Dean - field below plantation.
2 Lapwing.
2 Curlew.















Lee Dam:
No wildfowl except 5 Canada Geese, plus usual woodland stuff.

Longfield Dam:
2 Redshank.
1 pair Goldeneye.
22 Canada Geese.
No Lapwings - is this to be another non-breeding year here?

12th March PM

Decided to spend an hour and an half at my local watchpoint to clear my head from last nights birthday celebrations. I was rewarded with Peregrine, Raven, Grey Heron, 50+ Golden Plovers, 24 Lapwings, 10 Curlews, Stock Dove and several Woodpigeons.

Hope to get out tonight looking for LEOS, will post any results later.

Chiffchaff

Bird was observed actively feeding and occasionally singing for around 15 minutes early this afternoon at Elland Gravel Pits.

Just out of interest

Fly Flatts produced 13 species of wader for me during 2006.
Not that its a good place for waders but through going every Sunday morning to put down the Twite seed these are the waders I saw :-
Curlew Greenshank
Lapwing Green Sandpiper
Snipe Turnstone
Golden Plover LR Plover
Common Sandpiper Knot
Oystercatcher Dunlin
Redshank
Also some of the better birds were, Tree Pipit, Ring Ouzel,
Common Tern and Red Kite.
So when Im up there in the fog and gales with no birds in sight
I can think of this list and say,stick at it brian lad. BS

Fly Flatts & Cold Edge Dams

Loadsa spawning frogs at Cold Edge.
11/03/2007 Dry,cloudy WSW>6 0730-1015hrs
Fly Flatts
8 Unringed Twite
1pr Stonechat
11 Mipits >NW
4 Pied Wags >W
sev displaying Lapwings by Withens.

Cold Edge Dams
1m Stonechat
4 Curlew
1 Goldeneye
sev blogging Mipits
100s of spawning frogs.
BS 

Around and about

Had a drive round today one at lunch time coming back from Todmorden via Cross Stones and onto Widdop Rd. Then this evening up Cragg Rd to Ringstone and back.

A Heron was flying over the bus depot in Todmorden and several pairs of Lapwings displaying in fields around Cross Stones.

Later a flock of approx 30/40 Fieldfare heading up the Valley seen from Cragg Rd, at Ringstone itself nothing at the feeding station but 2 Goosander one male one female on the Res were joined by 6 more as I was leaving incl at least one other male.

HBWC Report 2005

Well done on the 2005 report Nick D. A lot of time
and effort has gone into it and the result is well
worthwhile,a credit to you.
Also Sean with the photos and anyone else
who contributed. BS

Bird Report

 

2005 Halifax Bird Report is now available at Woodlesford News Agents Pellon/Mount Tabor or from myself, Gordon Denison or Nick Carter who if emailed will post copies on. Hope to get them at tourist info centres asap. 

EARLY MORNING SURPRISE

Just over a week ago I had my first Siskin visit the garden, it appeared to be hanging around with a small flock of Greenfinch and has hardly been seen since. So imagine my surprise when this morning I stared out the kitchen window to see 8 Siskin including 3 Males.
Also around this morning Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Blue tit, Great tit, Chaffinch, House Sparrow, Pheasant, Jackdaw, Robin, GT Spotted Woodpecker, Dunnock.

The last 2 days have also produced 4 Roe Deer in fields directly down from the house, incl a buck with a very impressive set of antlers for a Roe.

The feeding station has pulled in other mammals incl Rabbit, Brown Rat and a mouse sp. (guessing at Field mouse).

I do enjoy breakfast stood at the kitchen window only problem is dragging yourself away to goto work.

Presentation Day

Many thanks for this famous award presented to me today by Andy C.
for my Purple Sandpiper.
I was really choked by the ossasion,mainly through laughing.
They are in good hands and I will polish them daily until I
loose them to the next lucky contender. BS 

Cock Hill - Hebden Bridge

1 curlew there today - my first of the year.

Elsewhere, green woodpecker calling at Jumble Hole. I haven't heard any recently, so it was good to hear.

Test

Greylags at Fly Flatts. BS 

I,M BACK

Thanks for the invite and your patience Matt, hopefully Im here to stay and now I can tell you all how quiet it is at Fly Flatts. BS

it werent a woodcock!

nope, wings way too long and slender. flight too erratic

also, i believe the blogsite needs too be updated?

Bird Report 2005

At last it is out, the 2005 Halifax Birdwatchers' Club report. At the moment copies can be picked up at Woodlesford News Agents at Pellon/Mount Tabor price 5 pounds. Stand by for further info on how to obtain a copy.

paintballing

i now this is just out of calderdale but i thought it was of note

on Sunday i went paintballing at a place near flockton, Huddersfield. while waiting around in a damp wood, i just happened to look up only to see an osprey flying over at about 50 ft. couldnt say what direction as i dont know the wood and there was no sun.
also later that day in the same wood, i saw a bird that i just couldnt identify - it had the size and jizz of a golden plover but was rapidly darting around the wood (conifers) at canopy level-sometimes going in and out of the uppermost branches. it had a fast and erratic flight often turning at severe angles. just cant think what it was - any ideas?

'In-house' list

You've heard of the patch list, and garden list, well how about the 'in-house' list.

Mine stands at two - a jackdaw down the chimney last year, and a starling in my attic this morning. I knew I had some holes in the roof, but I didn't know they were starling sized.

Binocular crisis over

Just a quick post to thank everyone who offered me a loan of their spare bins whilst I was without, mine are now fully restored and serviced F.O.C. by Leica (under warranty), an excellent service from a quality optics company.

5th March

 
 

36 Lapwings at High Road Well Moor, most of which still showed signs of juvenile plumage, also 1 Skylark. Sparrowhawk and Kestrel at Mount Tabor. 

4th March Brookfoot

Spent 2 hours looking for Lesser Pecker with no luck.
Lots of Long-tailed Tits present and 1 Coal Tit.
Elland GP- 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Goldeneye, 6 Goosander and 4 Cormorants (one of which was noteable smaller than the other three)viewing conditions were rubbish but it looked just like a regular cormorant.

Record Shot of Yellowhammer for Sean

Just the one singing male around this morning , which is disappointing as there were around five this time last year.
Other birds of note were 1 Cormorant over, 4 Goosander on the river, 2 Grey Wagtail, and 26 Redwing feeding on guelder-rose berries in the wood.
Whilst birding the area this morning two skeins of Pink Feet flew over. First c80 geese at 08:40 moving NW along R Calder, the other an hour later c250 geese moving NE towards Clifton

3rd March Lunar Eclipes

 
 

1 Tawny Owl calling from West End Golf Course whilst watching the lunar eclipes. 

3rd March Walshaw Dean PM

27 Curlews, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 50+ Fieldfare, 10+ Goldfinch, 20+ Chaffinch a few Mistle Thrush, Red Grouse and an odd Meadow Pipit.

2 March PM

A quick walk over Heath Hill Road produced the regular pair of Little Owls. Then at High Road Well Moor a superb adult male Merlin shot past me heading south, (88 for Calderdale year list). This was followed by a female Sparrowawk. Egged on by these two raptors I put in half an hour at my local watch point but all I got was a flock of 40+ Lapwing and a Curlew (89 for Calderdale Year list.
Anyone interested in the LEO survey this weekend please give me a ring.

Blue tit & Dipper

Saw this dipper today on the river ryburn near Kebroyd first one ihave seen

this is a regular vistor to my garden what do you think?